Abstract:

Collection and concurrent integration of supplemental information related
to currently playing media. Based on certain characteristics associated
with the media, additional information related thereto is identified and
output along with the media itself. This provides an enhanced experience
for a user, in that, this supplemental information augments the
presentation of the media to the user. Such supplemental content can be
any one or combination of a wide variety of types including textual
information, image content, audio content, video content, etc. This
supplemental content may be output automatically in conjunction with the
media (e.g., when such media is being output). Alternatively, the
supplemental content may be output upon the authorization of a user. The
supplemental content may be output in a predetermined location (e.g.,
location within a video display). Alternatively, such supplemental
content may be output within an unused (or infrequently used) area of
such a video display.

Claims:

1. An apparatus, comprising:a memory circuitry;a media playback circuitry
that is operative to output media having associated meta data; anda
search circuitry that, based on the meta data, is operative to identify
first supplemental content related to the media;a media processing
circuitry that is operative to combine the first supplemental content
with the media; anda meta data circuitry that is operative to modify the
meta data, based on the first supplemental content, thereby generating
modified meta data; and wherein:the modified meta data is stored in the
memory circuitry;the search circuitry, based on the modified meta data,
is operative to identify second supplemental content related to the
media;the media processing circuitry combines the second supplemental
content with the media; andthe media playback circuitry outputs the
combination of first supplemental content and media or the combination of
second supplemental content and media.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a video display coupled to
the media playback circuitry; and wherein:the media includes video
media;at least one of the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content includes at least one of textual content, image
content, and video content; andat least one of the combination of first
supplemental content and media and the combination of second supplemental
content and media is output via the video display.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:the video media occupies a first
region of the video display; andat least one of the first supplemental
content and the second supplemental content occupies at least one of the
first region and a second region of the video display.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:the video media occupies less than
all of the video display; andat least one of the first supplemental
content and the second supplemental content occupies a region of the
video display not occupied by the video media.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:the video media occupies a first
region of the video display; andthe media playback circuitry modifies the
first region of the video display thereby generating a second region of
the video display; andat least one of the first supplemental content and
the second supplemental content occupies the second region of the video
display.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a video display coupled to
the media playback circuitry;an audio output circuitry coupled to the
media playback circuitry; and wherein:the media includes audio media that
is output via the audio output circuitry; andat least one of the first
supplemental content and the second supplemental content includes at
least one of textual content, image content, and video content that is
output via the video display while the audio media is output via the
audio output circuitry.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the search circuitry searches at
least one of a local database and a remote database to identify at least
one of the first supplemental content and the second supplemental
content; andthe search circuitry retrieves at least one of the first
supplemental content and the second supplemental content from at least
one of the local database and the remote database.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:when the media playback circuitry
outputs the media during a subsequent playback, the search circuitry is
operative to identify third supplemental content related to the media
based on the modified meta data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the meta data circuitry is operative
to analyze the media to generate the meta data or the modified meta data.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:user interface
implemented to receive user information related to at least one of the
media, the first supplemental information, and the second supplemental
information; anda meta data circuitry that is operative to modify at
least one of the meta data and the modified meta data based on the user
information related to at least one of the media, the first supplemental
information, and the second supplemental information.

11. An apparatus, comprising:a media playback circuitry that is operative
to output media having associated meta data;a search circuitry that,
based on the meta data, is operative to identify supplemental content
related to the media;a media processing circuitry that is operative to
combine the supplemental content with the media; and wherein:the media
playback circuitry outputs the combination of supplemental content and
media.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:a video display coupled
to the media playback circuitry; and wherein:the media includes video
media;the supplemental content includes at least one of textual content,
image content, and video content; andthe combination of supplemental
content and media is output via the video display.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:the video media occupies a first
region of the video display; andthe supplemental content occupies at
least one of the first region and a second region of the video display.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:the video media occupies less than
all of the video display; andthe supplemental content occupies a region
of the video display not occupied by the video media.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein:the video media occupies a first
region of the video display; andthe media playback circuitry modifies the
first region of the video display thereby generating a second region of
the video display; andthe supplemental occupies the second region of the
video display.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:a video display coupled
to the media playback circuitry;an audio output circuitry coupled to the
media playback circuitry; and wherein:the media includes audio media that
is output via the audio output circuitry; andthe supplemental content
includes at least one of textual content, image content, and video
content that is output via the video display while the audio media is
output via the audio output circuitry.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:the search circuitry searches at
least one of a local database and a remote database to identify the
supplemental content; andthe search circuitry retrieves the supplemental
content from at least one of the local database and the remote database.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:a memory circuitry,
coupled to the search circuitry, that includes the supplemental content;
and wherein:the search circuitry accesses the memory circuitry to
identify and retrieve the supplemental content.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:a meta data circuitry
that is operative to modify the meta data based on the supplemental
content.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:a meta data circuitry;a
memory circuitry, coupled to the search circuitry, that is operative to
store the supplemental content; andwhen the media playback circuitry
outputs the media during a subsequent playback, the search circuitry is
operative to identify at least one additional supplemental content
related to the media; andthe meta data circuitry is operative to modify
the supplemental content stored in the memory circuitry based on the at
least one additional supplemental content.

21. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:when the media playback circuitry
outputs the media during a subsequent playback, the search circuitry is
operative to identify at least one additional supplemental content
related to the media.

22. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:when the media playback circuitry
outputs the media during a subsequent playback, the search circuitry is
operative to identify at least one additional supplemental content
related to the media; andduring the subsequent playback, the media
playback circuitry outputs the at least one additional supplemental
content.

23. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:a meta data circuitry
that is operative to analyze the media to generate or modify the meta
data.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein:the media includes video media;the
meta data circuitry identifies an object within the video media; andthe
meta data circuitry modifies the meta data based on the object identified
within the video media.

25. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:user interface
implemented to receive user information related to at least one of the
media and the supplemental information; anda meta data circuitry that is
operative to modify the meta data based on the user information related
to at least one of the media and the supplemental information.

26. A method, comprising:outputting media, having associated meta data,
via an output circuitry;based on the meta data, searching a database to
identify supplemental content related to the media;combining the
supplemental content with the media; andoutputting the combination of
supplemental content and media via the output circuitry.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:the searching a database to identify
supplemental content related to the media includes:searching a remote
database to identify first supplemental content related to the media;
andsearching a local database to identify second supplemental content
related to the media;the combining the supplemental content with the
media includes combining the first supplemental content and the second
supplemental content with the media; andthe outputting the combination of
supplemental content and the media via the output circuitry includes
outputting combination of the first supplemental content, the second
supplemental, and the media.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein:the output circuitry includes a video
display;the media includes video media;the supplemental content includes
at least one of textual content, image content, and video content; andthe
combination of supplemental content and media is output via the video
display.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein:the output circuitry includes a video
display and an audio output circuitry;the media includes audio media that
is output via the audio output circuitry; andthe supplemental content
includes at least one of textual content, image content, and video
content that is output via the video display while the audio media is
output via the audio output circuitry.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:during a subsequent
outputting of the media via the output circuitry, searching the database
or at least one additional database to identify at least one additional
supplemental content related to the media.

31. The method of claim 26, further comprising:via a user interface,
receiving user information related to at least one of the media and the
supplemental information; andmodifying the meta data based on the user
information related to at least one of the media and the supplemental
information.

Description:

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS

Provisional Priority Claims

[0001]The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant
to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent
Application which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for
all purposes:

[0004]The invention relates generally to devices operable to output media;
and, more particularly, it relates to the management of supplemental
content associated with such media.

[0005]2. Description of Related Art

[0006]The amount of media available for user consumption and enjoyment
continues to grow a staggering rate. There seems to be an insatiable
market for providing news, media, and information to users. Users
continually seek such information via a variety of avenues. Nonetheless,
there still does not exist an adequate means in the art by which a user
can identify and enjoy such information in an efficient, coherent, and
timely manner.

[0007]While many sources of information do in fact exist, it can be a
cumbersome and time-consuming task even to find such information across
such a broad range of sources. Also, once such information is identified
(if it can be identified by a user), a user is left with an inability to
integrate such information for a coherent media enjoyment experience, in
that, such information is typically distributed across a number of
platforms/devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008]The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of
operation that are further described in the following Brief Description
of the Several Views of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of the
Invention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of
the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0025]A novel means is presented herein by which any of a variety of types
of supplemental content are identified and combined with media. The media
itself can be analyzed to identify characteristics thereof, and using
this identified information, supplemental content can be identified to
augment the presentation of the media. For example, meta data is one type
of characteristic of media that can be analyzed and used in the
identification of supplemental content. The supplemental content may be
of any variety of types, including textual content, image content, video
content, and may correspond to ratings, news, opinions, etc.
corresponding to the media. For one example, the media may be audio
media, and the supplemental content may be targeted and related to the
contributing artist who performed the song, or the supplemental content
may be targeted and related to the production company that produced
and/or marketed the song on behalf of the contributing artist, etc.

[0026]Such supplemental content may be viewed as being extra content
related to the media that provides for an enhanced media enjoyment
experience for a user. In addition, a device may also include a user
interface to allow a user to add to and augment an existing database that
includes such supplemental content by allowing for the submission of
user-provided opinions, comments, ratings, etc.

[0027]There are a variety of types of devices that are operative to
perform the management of supplemental content associated with such media
to effectuate an improved user experience. Some examples of such devices
are described below.

[0028]FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of a computer 101. The computer
101 can be a desktop computer, or an enterprise storage devices such a
server, of a host computer that is attached to a storage array such as a
redundant array of independent disks (RAID) array, storage router, edge
router, storage switch and/or storage director. A user is able to view
still digital images or video (e.g., a sequence of digital images) using
the computer 101. Oftentimes, various image viewing capabilities and/or
media player capabilities are included on a computer 101 to allow a user
to view such images (including video). Also, certain embodiments of such
a computer 101 can include one or more audio output devices (e.g.,
speakers either coupled to the computer 101 or integrated within the
computer 101) to allow the outputting of audio content as well.

[0029]FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of a laptop computer 102. Such a
laptop computer 102 may be found and used in any of a wide variety of
contexts. In recent years, with the ever-increasing processing capability
and functionality found within laptop computers, they are being employed
in many instances where previously higher-end and more capable desktop
computers would be used. As with the computer 101, the laptop computer
102 may include various image viewing capabilities and/or media player
capabilities to allow a user to view such images (including video). The
laptop computer 102 may also include or be coupled to one or more audio
output devices (e.g., speakers).

[0030]FIG. 1c illustrates an embodiment of a high definition (HD)
television 103. Many HD televisions 103 include an integrated tuner to
allow the receipt, processing, and decoding of media content (e.g.,
television broadcast signals) thereon. Alternatively, sometimes an HD
television 103 receives media content from another source such as a
digital video disc (DVD) player, set top box (STB) that receives,
processes, and decodes a cable and/or satellite television broadcast
signal (or alternatively, an over the air broadcast signal). Regardless
of the particular implementation, the HD television 103 may be
implemented to perform media processing as described herein. Generally
speaking, an HD television 103 has capability to display HD media content
and oftentimes is implemented having a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.
Clearly, other aspect ratios other than merely 16:9 may be implemented
within such an HD television 103. Such an HD television 103 typically
will include integrated speakers. Also, such a HD television 103 may be
implemented cooperatively with an external sound system that outputs
audio content.

[0031]FIG. 1D illustrates an embodiment of a standard definition (SD)
television 104. Of course, an SD television 104 is somewhat analogous to
an HD television 103, with at least one difference being that the SD
television 104 does not include capability to display HD media content,
and an SD television 104 oftentimes is implemented having a 4:3 full
screen aspect ratio. Nonetheless, even an SD television 104 may be
implemented to perform media processing as described herein. As mentioned
above with respect to another television type, such an SD television 104
typically will include integrated speakers. Also, such a SD television
104 may be implemented cooperatively with an external sound system that
outputs audio content.

[0032]FIG. 1E illustrates an embodiment of a handheld media unit 105. A
handheld media unit 105 may operate to provide general storage or storage
of image/video content information such as joint photographic experts
group (JPEG) files, tagged image file format (TIFF), bitmap, motion
picture experts group (MPEG) files, Windows Media Architecture (WMA)
files, other types of video content such as MPEG4 files, etc. for
playback to a user, and/or any other type of information that may be
stored in a digital format. Historically, such handheld media units were
primarily employed for storage and playback of audio media; however, such
a handheld media unit 105 may be employed for storage and playback of
virtual any media (e.g., audio media, video media, photographic media,
etc.). Moreover, such a handheld media unit 105 may also include other
functionality such as integrated communication circuitry for wired and
wireless communications. Such a handheld media unit 105 may be
implemented to perform media processing as described herein.

[0033]FIG. 1F illustrates an embodiment of a set top box (STB) 106. As
mentioned above, sometimes a STB 106 may be implemented to receive,
process, and decode a cable and/or satellite television broadcast signal
to be provided to any appropriate display capable device such as SD
television 104 and/or HD television 103. Such an STB 106 may operate
independently or cooperatively with such a display capable device to
perform media processing as described herein.

[0034]FIG. 1G illustrates an embodiment of a digital video disc (DVD)
player 107. Such a DVD player may be any one of a Blu-Ray DVD player, an
HD capable DVD player, an SD capable DVD player, and an up-sampling
capable DVD player (e.g., from SD to HD, etc.) without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention. The DVD player may provide a signal to
any appropriate display capable device such as SD television 104 and/or
HD television 103. The DVD player 105 may be implemented to perform media
processing as described herein.

[0035]FIG. 1H illustrates an embodiment of a generic media processing
device 108. Again, as mentioned above, these various devices described
above do not include an exhaustive list of devices in which the media
processing described herein may be effectuated, and it is noted that any
generic digital media processing device 108 may be implemented to perform
the media processing described herein without departing from the scope
and spirit of the invention.

[0036]FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus 200 that is
operative to output media and supplemental content related thereto. The
apparatus 200 includes a media playback circuitry 230, a media processing
circuitry 240, and a search circuitry 250. The media playback circuitry
230 is operative to output media having associated meta data and/or other
characteristics associated therewith. Based on the meta data and/or other
characteristics associated with the media, the search circuitry 250 is
operative to identify supplemental content related to the media. The
media processing circuitry 240 is operative to combine the supplemental
content with the media. The media playback circuitry 230 then outputs the
combination of supplemental content and media.

[0037]Depending on the granularity and overall content of the meta data
and/or other characteristics associated with the media, various amounts
of information related to the media can be gleaned. For example, with
respect to audio media with audio media (e.g., such as that formatted in
accordance with Motion Picture Expert Group-1 Audio Layer 3 (MP3) format,
Windows Media Audio (WMA), or some other audio format), associated meta
data can include information related any one or more of the contributing
artist, the album, the date of production, the locale of production, the
track number (e.g., on a CD), a bit rate, a length, etc. In the context
of live recordings, information related to the locale, date, etc.
associated with the live performance may also be included within such
meta data.

[0038]Somewhat analogously, with respect to video files (e.g., such as
those formatted in accordance with any of the various Motion Picture
Expert Group (MPEG) formats (e.g., MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3, MPEG-4),
Windows Media Audio (WMA), or those formatted in accordance with some
other video format), associated meta data can include information related
to any one or more of the production company/studio, the actors and/or
individuals included within the video media, the date of production,
sites where filmed, etc.

[0039]Also, with respect to image files (e.g., such as those formatted in
accordance with any of the various Joint Photographic Experts Group
(JPEG) formats, Tagged Image File Format (TIFF), Bitmap file format
(BMP), or some other image format), associated meta data can include
information related to any one or more of the individuals and/or objects
included within the image media, the date of image capture, camera
settings (e.g., focal length, aperture, exposure, etc.), camera model,
the site at which the image was captured, etc.

[0040]Moreover, for each of various types of media, various recognition
and processing means can be employed to identify attributes of the media.
For example, with respect to audio media, pattern recognition processing
may be employed to identify a particular song, and that identification
can be associated with the contributing artist. With respect to image
(e.g., either still images or the image content included within the video
media), various image processing means may be employed to identify
individuals and/or objects within such images.

[0041]Regardless of precisely how characteristics associated with the
media are ascertained (e.g., via the meta data of the media, via other
processing means of the media to ascertain certain attributes of the
media, etc.), these characteristics associated with the media are
employed to identify supplemental content related to that media. The
supplemental content related to the media may come in any of a variety of
forms including textual information, image content, audio content, video
content, etc. In addition, the supplemental content related to the media
may come from any of a variety of sources. Different supplemental content
may come from different sources.

[0044]The media playback circuitry 330 is coupled to a video display 310
that may include embedded or an integrated audio output circuitry or
which may be coupled to an external audio output circuitry 320. A user
interface 390 may also be implemented to receive information from and/or
provide information to a user of the apparatus 300.

[0045]The media playback circuitry 330 is operative to output media having
associated meta data and/or other characteristics associated therewith.
Based on the meta data and/or other characteristics associated with the
media, the search circuitry 350 is operative to identify first
supplemental content related to the media. The media processing circuitry
340 is operative to combine the first supplemental content with the
media. The media playback circuitry 330 may then, if desired, output the
combination of the first supplemental content with the media to the video
display 310 and/or the audio output circuitry 320.

[0046]Based on the first supplemental content, the meta data circuitry 380
is operative to modify the meta data and/or other characteristics
associated with the media, thereby generating modified meta data and/or
other modified characteristics associated with the media. This modified
meta data and/or other modified characteristics associated with the media
may then be stored in the memory circuitry 370.

[0047]Thereafter, based on the modified meta data and/or other modified
characteristics associated with the media, the search circuitry 350 is
operative to identify second supplemental content related to the media.
The media processing circuitry 340 then combines the second supplemental
content with the media, and the media playback circuitry 330 outputs the
combination of first supplemental content and media or the combination of
second supplemental content and media.

[0048]In this embodiment, the search circuitry 350 accesses a database
360, which could be a local database 360a or a remote database 360b or a
number of different local and/or remote databases, to identify the first
and/or second supplemental content.

[0049]Any of a wide variety of databases may be accesses to ascertain
information related to media. For example, with respect to audio media,
Apple, Inc.'s iTunes web site includes an enormous amount of information
related to artists, musical groups, production companies, etc. With
respect to video media, various web sites such as the Internet Movie
Database (IMDb) web site, the Rotten Tomatoes web site, etc. include
various supplemental content including reviews, ratings, news, and other
information related to such video media. With respect to the Internet,
there are a variety of news related web sites that may be accessed to
provide news related supplemental content (e.g., CNN's web site, CNN's
Headline News web site, Fox News web site, MSNBC News web site, etc.).

[0050]In addition to such publicly available sources of media and/or
supplemental information, local databases (including user-owned and
locally maintained databases such as may be stored on a user's computer,
a user's external hard disk drive, a user's intranet, etc.) may be
employed as well to store and include such media and/or supplemental
content.

[0051]The user interface 390 may be implemented to receive user
information related to any one or more of the media, the first
supplemental information, and the second supplemental information. Based
on this user information, the meta data circuitry 380 is operative to
modify any one of the meta data and/or other characteristics associated
with the media and the modified meta data. In addition, the user
interface 390 may operate as a bi-directional communication link to the
user, in that, additional information may be provided to the user via the
user interface 390 such as solicitations requesting for user provided
input such as ratings, opinions, commentary, etc.

[0052]Referring to apparatus 400 of FIG. 4, this embodiment is somewhat
analogous to the previous embodiment, but a media processing circuitry
440 includes a meta data circuitry 480, a search circuitry 450, and a
memory circuitry 470 integrated therein.

[0053]The apparatus 400 also includes a media playback circuitry 430, a
video display 410, and the media processing circuitry 440 is operative to
access a database 460 (being one or both of local 460a or remote 460b in
nature). In some embodiments, an external audio output circuitry 420 is
also coupled to the media playback circuitry 430 and a user interface 490
may also be implemented to facilitate interaction with a user. The
embodiment of this diagram shows just one possible alternative of
integration of various circuitries within an apparatus that is operative
to output media and supplemental content related thereto. Clearly, other
variations or degrees of integration of various circuitries may be
employed in other embodiments.

[0055]Referring to apparatus 501 of FIG. 5A, the apparatus 501 includes a
video display on which supplemental content is output on a side of the
video display; this supplemental content may be displayed on the left or
right hand side of the video display (or both sides).

[0056]Referring to apparatus 502 of FIG. 5B, the apparatus 501 includes a
video display on which supplemental content is output on a bottom of the
video display; this supplemental content may be displayed on the top or
bottom of the video display (or both top and bottom).

[0057]Referring to apparatus 503 of FIG. 5c, the apparatus 501 includes a
video display on which supplemental content is inset within the media
that is displayed.

[0058]It is noted also that there are various means by which the
supplemental content may be emplaced and presented in conjunction with
the media. For example, a user may select (e.g., via a user interface) a
preferred location in which the supplemental content is to be displayed.
Alternatively, the location in which the supplemental content is
presented may be adaptively determined based on the person or object
within the media with which it is associated. For example, a news clip
associated with an actor depicted within video media may be presented in
relatively close proximity to the actor's location within the media
(e.g., next to or below the actor).

[0059]In addition, the emplacement of the supplemental content may be
adaptively determined based on the used region of a video display.

[0060]FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment 600 of modification of a display
region of a video display and supplemental content emplacement within
unused portions of the video display. Video media may have various aspect
ratios and formats (e.g., 4:3, 16:9, letterbox, etc.). Also, various
video displays also come in various shapes having various aspect ratios
(e.g., 4:3, 16:9, etc.). When the video media does not fully occupy the
available display region of a video display, oftentimes the video media
is modified (e.g., reformatted, stretched, cropped, shrunk, etc.) to fit
appropriately within the video display.

[0061]For example, if video media having a 4:3 aspect ratio is displayed
on a video display having a 16:9 aspect ratio, then there may be unused
display regions of the video display (e.g., on right and left hand side
in this case). As another example, if video media having a letterbox
aspect ratio is displayed on a video display having a 16:9 aspect ratio
or a 4:3 aspect ratio, then there may be unused display regions of the
video display (e.g., on top and bottom hand side in this case).

[0062]The supplemental content associated with the media may be output in
these unused video display regions. Alternatively, the region of the
video display in which the media may be displayed may be modified (e.g.,
contracted, stretched, and/or simply moved up/down/left/right) to provide
for the display region in which the supplemental content may be
displayed. Of course, the location in which the supplemental content is
displayed may be selected by or modified by a user (e.g., via a user
interface as well).

[0063]FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment 700 of various sources from which
media and/or supplemental content may be provided as well as various
supplemental content types. A processing circuitry 710 includes a media
playback circuitry 730, a media processing circuitry 740, and a search
circuitry 750 therein. In some embodiments, the processing circuitry 710
also includes a user interface 790 as well.

[0064]There is a variety of sources 720 from which either one or both of
the media and supplemental content may be provided. For example, they may
be locally stored 721, remotely stored 722 (e.g., and accessible via some
network connection), provided via the Internet 723 (e.g., from some
content, ratings, and/or news related site, etc.), provided via a cable
service provider 724 (or some other media service provider), from a DVD
and/or CD player 725, and/or any other source.

[0065]There are a variety of types of forms that the supplemental content
may take, as indicated by reference numeral 799, textual content 791,
image content 792, video content 793, audio content 794, and/or any other
form or any combination thereof 795.

[0066]FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of an apparatus that is
operative to output media (provided from a first source) and supplemental
content (provided from a second source).

[0067]A processing circuitry 810 includes a media playback circuitry 830,
a media processing circuitry 840, and a search circuitry 850 therein. In
some embodiments, the processing circuitry 810 also includes a user
interface 890 as well.

[0068]It is noted that each of the media and supplemental content need not
be provided from a common source. For example, the media may be provided
from one source 821, and the supplemental content may be provided from
another source 822. In addition, first supplemental content may be
provided from a first supplemental source 822, and second supplemental
content may be provided from a second supplemental source 823. Also,
during subsequent playbacks of the media, additional searching may be
performed in the same or different supplemental source(s).

[0069]FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a method 900 for outputting
media and supplemental content related thereto. The method 900 begins by
outputting media, having associated meta data, via an output circuitry,
as shown in a block 910.

[0070]The method 900 continues searching a database to identify
supplemental content related to the media, as shown in a block 920. This
searching is narrowed and targeted based on the meta data of the media.
In addition, other characteristics besides only meta data may be employed
to assist in the searching of the database to identify at least one type
of supplemental content. The method 900 continues by combining the
supplemental content with the media, as shown in a block 930, and the
method 900 then operates by outputting the combination of supplemental
content and media via the output circuitry, as shown in a block 940.

[0072]Referring to method 1000 of FIG. 10A, the method 1000 begins by
initially outputting media via an output circuitry, as shown in a block
1010. The method 1000 continues by analyzing meta data associated with
media, as shown in a block 1020. Based on meta data, the method 1000 then
operates by identifying supplemental content related to the media, as
shown in a block 1030. The method 1000 then continues by combining the
supplemental content with the media mid-stream (i.e., during the playback
of the media), as shown in a block 1040. In other words, the media
initially is output via the output circuitry, and the media also
undergoes analysis to assist in the identification of such supplemental
content. Sometime during playback (e.g., mid-stream during the playback
of the media), the supplemental content is added to the output to augment
the playback of the media. As such, the method 1000 continues by
subsequently outputting the combination of supplemental content and media
via the output circuitry, as shown in a block 1050.

[0074]Based on received user information, the method 1001 continues by
modifying media and/or supplemental content, as shown in a block 1031.
The method 1001 then operates by storing modified media and/or
supplemental content, as shown in a block 1041.

[0075]Referring to method 1100 of FIG. 11A, the method 1100 begins by
outputting combination of first supplemental content and media via an
output circuitry during a first time, as shown in a block 1110. Prior to
a subsequent output of the combination of supplemental content and media,
the method 1100 operates by identifying second supplemental content
related to the media and/or first supplemental content, as shown in a
block 1120.

[0076]The method 1100 then continues by combining the second supplemental
content with the media or prior combination of the first supplemental
content and media, as shown in a block 1130. The method 1100 proceeds by
outputting the combination of the second supplemental content with the
media or combination of the first supplemental content, second
supplemental content, and media, as shown in a block 1140.

[0077]Referring to method 1101 of FIG. 11B, the method 1101 begins by
analyzing media or meta data associated with media, as shown in a block
1111. Based on a user's service subscription level, the method 1101
continues by identifying supplemental content included with subscription,
as shown in a block 1121. Various grades/levels/tiers of subscription can
offer access to different types of supplemental content.

[0078]The method 1101 continues by combining the supplemental content with
the media, as shown in a block 1131. The method 1101 continues by
outputting the combination of supplemental content and media via an
output circuitry, as shown in a block 1141.

[0079]Referring to method 1200 of FIG. 12A, the method 1200 begins by
receiving user information requesting supplemental content related to
media via a user interface, as shown in a block 1210. Based on user
information, the method 1200 continues by identifying supplemental
content related to the media, as shown in a block 1220.

[0080]The method 1200 then operates by combining the supplemental content
with the media mid-stream (during playback of the media), as shown in a
block 1230. The method 1200 proceeds by outputting the combination of
supplemental content and media via an output circuitry, as shown in a
block 1240.

[0081]Referring to method 1201 of FIG. 12B, the method 1201 begins by
analyzing media to identify object therein, as shown in a block 1211. In
an alternative embodiment, the method 1200 instead operates by receiving
information related to user-identified object depicted within media via
user interface, as shown in a block 1205 instead of performing the
operations in block 1211.

[0082]The method 1201 continues by identifying purchase option for
identified object (or replica/remake thereof, etc.), as shown in a block
1221. For example, the purchase option may include not only presenting
the purchasable option for the identified object to a user, but also by
providing additional related to the identified object (e.g., such a
jacket was worn by a performer during a concert in a particular locale on
a particular date, etc.). The method 1201 continues by presenting
purchase option via user interface (or output circuitry), as shown in a
block 1231.

[0083]In some embodiments, the method 1201 also continues by
receiving/processing purchase request (for purchase options) via the user
interface, as shown in a block 1241.

[0084]It is noted that the various circuitries and/or modules (e.g., media
playback modules or circuitries, media processing modules or circuitries,
search modules or circuitries, meta data modules or circuitries, memory
modules or circuitries, processing modules or circuitries, etc.)
described herein may be a single processing device or a plurality of
processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,
micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central
processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic
device, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digital
circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/or
digital) based on operational instructions. The operational instructions
may be stored in a memory. The memory may be a single memory device or a
plurality of memory devices. Such a memory device may be a read-only
memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory,
static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/or any device that
stores digital information. It is also noted that when the processing
circuitry implements one or more of its functions via a state machine,
analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory
storing the corresponding operational instructions is embedded with the
circuitry comprising the state machine, analog circuitry, digital
circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. In such an embodiment, a memory
stores, and a processing circuitry coupled thereto executes, operational
instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and/or functions
illustrated and/or described herein.

[0085]The present invention has also been described above with the aid of
method steps illustrating the performance of specified functions and
relationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functional
building blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined herein for
convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences can be
defined so long as the specified functions and relationships are
appropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences are
thus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

[0086]The present invention has been described above with the aid of
functional building blocks illustrating the performance of certain
significant functions. The boundaries of these functional building blocks
have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description. Alternate
boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significant functions
are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocks may also have
been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certain significant
functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram block boundaries and
sequence could have been defined otherwise and still perform the certain
significant functionality. Such alternate definitions of both functional
building blocks and flow diagram blocks and sequences are thus within the
scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

[0087]One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the
functional building blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and
components herein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete
components, application specific integrated circuits, processors
executing appropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

[0088]Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity and
understanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the present
invention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to one
of average skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be
practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limited only
by the scope of the appended claims.